Thanks For Reading The Financial Philosopher

"I write to keep from going mad from the contradictions I find among mankind -- and to work some of those contradictions out for myself." ~ Michel de Montaigne

I am humbled that you would take the time and interest to read more about this learning experience I call The Financial Philosopher.

Let's remove the formalities first: My name is Kent Thune and I am the President and founder of an independent, "fee-only," registered investment advisory firm called Atlantic Capital Investments. I am a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and a free-lance writer. I also earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from The Citadel of South Carolina.

More importantly, I am a father, a husband, a friend, a thinker, a dreamer, and a musician. I am also thankful and proud to call myself "a writer," which is a perfect lead-in to the creation and evolution of this blog.

If you are looking for a quick summary of the purpose of this blog, I believe an abstract description might look like this: 2500 years of universal truths delivered in such a way that they may help readers find their own path to meaning, purpose and authenticity by removing the physical world covers of money, materiality and social status.

Put another way, The Financial Philosopher is nearly opposite of most financial websites in the regard that TFP attempts to uncover the illusion that happiness can be found with money.

"As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This blog was not planned -- it was enabled...

As recently as 2005, I had no plans of starting my own business and certainly no plans of starting a blog site or becoming a professional writer. I barely even knew what a "blog" was then!

At that time, when my first-born son was four years old, I was extremely busy doing those things that social conventions and most financial websites promote -- trying to achieve financial success and "climb the corporate ladder."

One day my young son asked me why I was away from home so much and missing special events, such as important holidays and family gatherings at his school.

Just as any normal, dutiful Father would do, I explained, "Daddy is working hard for our family to earn money to pay for all the things we have and to buy other things in the future…"

And without a moment’s hesitation, my young son said, "I’d rather have my Daddy than money."

I was speechless as my heart hit the floor… How ironic is that? I was managing hundreds of millions of dollars for tens of thousands of people at a pension firm and here is a four-year old child delivering the kind of paradigm shift about money that I needed to find the best path for me and my family.

I now operate a successful business out of my home; I drop my two sons off at school in the mornings; I am there when they get home; I put them to bed at night; and I’ve never missed a significant event in my two boys’ lives since that life-changing time.

And, oh yes! The inception of my business also enabled the "accidental" creation of The Financial Philosopher and additional, rewarding work as a freelance writer.

"I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery." ~ Rene Descartes

It is now my personal task to continue learning about myself as I attempt to encourage and enable others to discover their own path to a meaningful existence...

Disclaimer

The information on this site is provided for discussion purposes only, and should not be misconstrued as investment advice. Under no circumstances does this information represent a recommendation to buy or sell securities.